In office, to take a short break from her work, Naina planned to go down and meet Preeti at her floor... seeing Sameer busy in some discussion with Pandit, she left without informing him... she entered in her department when saw Preeti sitting on her desk keeping her hand on her head and crying silently.... Naina shocked to see her in such a messy condition...

Naina cupped her face wiping tears, "kya hua Preeti... tu... tu aise kyun baithi hai... bata na kya hua hai... aur tu ro kyun rahi hai... kisi ne kuchh kaha tujhse... mujhe darr lag raha hai... tu itni chup kyun hai..." seeing Preeti like this scared her more... she has always seen her smiling... to keep others happy around her...

Preeti cried more tightly hugging her, "Naina... voh... phone... hospital... mummy papa ka accident... Naina mein kya karun... mujhe kuchh samajh nahin aa raha... yeh sab kaise... achanak se..." she cried hard fumbling on her word...

Naina got more shocked but controlling her own emotions she hugged her tightly, "tu ghabra mat Preeti kuchh nahin hoga uncle aunty ko... chal hum hospital chalte hai... mein... mein hoon tere saath..." she shattered seeing her and scared from inside how to handle this, but she must remain strong for her... few hours back they both were excitedly discussing and planning how they will spend the weekend with her parents, but destiny has their own plans...

Preeti was not even in a condition to handle everything alone... she was always be a confident and strong girl, but today sudden events of happenings scared her...

Naina decided to accompany her, "tu ruk... mein bas ek minute mein aayi..."

Taking elevator, she quickly rushed back to her floor... knocking on Sameer's cabin door she barged in seeing him busy in some discussion with Pandit... before Sameer reacts on her weird behavior, she said instantly, "I am sorry, I entered like this... but it's an emergency... Preeti ke parents ka accident ho gaya hai... I have to go with her to hospital if you allowed me leave for today... please it's a request... she is all alone..." her own eyes brimmed with tears...

Sameer replied calmly seeing her pale face, "it's okay... you can go with her..." she thanks him when he instructed Pandit to go with her... she turned to deny his help but seeing his stern look remain quiet and left with Pandit...

Sameer didn't feel good to send her alone knowing how much emotionally and physically weak she is... handling Preeti in this condition and hospital formalities are not going to be easy for her... Pandit being the best choice to send along with the girls who can handle and support them...

Soon Pandit drive Naina and Preeti to hospital but the moment they reached, Doctor confirmed that her parents are no more alive... Preeti shattered with the news and collapsed... Pandit hold her on time to save her falling on floor... Naina bring water and sprinkle on her face... soon she gained conscious but still sitting with blank expressions whereas tears keep rolling down from her eyes...

Pandit went to complete the hospital formalities whereas Naina remain seated with Preeti throughout the time to console her...

Naina asked, "Preeti... you have any relatives to inform... tell me, I will call them..."

Preeti shook her head, "Mummy Papa ke alaawa mera koi nahin hai... actually unhone love marriage ki thi isiliye unki families ne unse usi waqt saare rishtey tod diye the... tab se hum teenon hi bas ek dusre ka pariwaar the... aur ab... ab... mein akele..." she cried thinking how she will stay all alone in this world....

Naina hugged her tightly, "tu akeli nahin hai... mein hoon na tere saath... aaj ke baad tujhe kabhi akela nahin chhodungi... promise..." they both cried when Pandit came to them... he too feels distressed seeing them both in miserable condition...

Its first time in his life to face such situation... he instantly pulled both of them in a tight hug to consol... a strange feeling sheathed in his heart and mind... for Naina, he always considers her as a sister but for Preeti, they hardly know each other... but seeing her crying he can't control himself and pull her in his embrace to calm her, to support her... at this moment, he feel like to go beyond limits if anything can make her happy, but feels helpless as situation is not in his control either...

Later seeing them both slightly calmed, Pandit asked slowly looking at Preeti, "I completed the hospital formalities... ab kya karein..." he asked nervously as having no idea how to handle all alone... but he has to remain strong for their sake...

Naina told him that Preeti doesn't have any relatives so they decided to do the cremation right now...

Naina took Preeti to morgue room to have a last look of her parents... after that Pandit does all the last rituals with few of office colleagues who came after listening the sudden demise of her parents to support her emotionally...

Pandit drove them back to Preeti's house... few of her neighbors were there to console her... lastly all left one by one leaving Naina Preeti and Pandit alone at home...

Naina seeing her condition prefer to stay back with her... leaving her in room she came out to Pandit, "I think mujhe aaj yahin rukna chahiye... isey iss haalat mein akele nahin chhod sakti... please Mr Maheshwari ko inform kar dena..."

Pandit nodded and left saying, "dhyaan rakhna aur kuchh chahiye ho toh just call me..." he too left after some time leaving girls alone at home reluctantly...

Naina cooked for Preeti and forced her to eat, "dekh agar tu aise karegi toh uncle aunty ko kitna dukh hoga... unhone tujhe kitna strong banaya hai ... tu aise kamjor nahin pad sakti... tujhe unke liye jeena hoga na..."

Preeti looked her with teary eyes, "Naina, mein shuru se iss shahar mein akele rahi hun par hamesha pata tha ki jab bhi jarurat hogi Mummy Papa mere saath honge... poore week mein unke aane ka intzaar karti thi, par ab koi nahin hai... koi mujhse milne ke liye betaab nahin hoga, na hi koi roj mujhse puchhega ki maine khaana khaaya ki nahin... koi ab mujhe pyaar se nahin daantega jab mein apna room messy karungi... aisa mere hi saath kyun hua... sab ek jhatke mein khatam ho gaya aur mein akeli ho gayi... agar bhagwanji naraaj the toh koi aur saza de dete par mujhe yun anaath kyun bana diya..." she cried bitterly...

Naina tried to console her, "Preeti aisa nahin sochte... jo hamare dil mein hote hai voh humse kabhi dur nahin jaate... uncle aunty hamesha se tere saath the aur rahenge... tere dil mein... tu jab bhi udaas hogi voh bhi honge toh ab teri jimmedari hai ki unhein khush rakhna... tujhe aage badna hoga... unhone tujhe yahi sikhaya hai na... tujhe unka har sapna poora karna hai..."

Naina tried hard to convince her to eat some food... she herself was hurt missing her own parents who stays in same city but never bother to meet her and concerned for her well-being... even today Preeti is away from her parents but they are still so close to her heart... their blessings will remain with her always...

Soon after talking for some time, Naina let Preeti sleep for some time as this was the only way to let her stay calm and compose herself...

Pandit reached home with heavy hearted... after knowing Sameer is back from office, he went to meet him in his room...

After informing all day happenings he was about to go back to rest when Sameer stops him asking slowly, "where is she?"

Whole day he waited for Naina to call him but get disappointed not getting any news from her... only Pandit called him to inform about the sudden demise of Preeti's parents...

Pandit turned to him apologizing, "sorry, voh mein batana bhool gaya... usane kaha aaj voh Preeti ke saath uske ghar par hi rahegi... maine bhi force nahin kiya kyunki Preeti ko yun akele chhodna theek nahin tha... she was very upset... in fact they both were very upset... saara din Naina ne hi Preeti ko sambhal rakha tha..." saying this his own eyes blurred recalling Preeti's tear stained face and her condition...

Sameer nodded and soon Pandit too left... whole night Sameer was so restless oblivious of his own feelings, "mujhe itni bechaini kyun ho rahi hai... roj uske paas hone ka ehsaas hi mujhe kitna sukoon deta hai aur aaj yun achanak ghar nahin aayi... I understand ki Preeti ko uski jarurat thi par mein... mujhse toh na puchha aur na kuchh kaha... poore din mein ek baar bhi phone tak nahin kiya... khud itni emotional hai, har baat par ro deti hai toh Preeti ko kaise sambhalegi... mujhe jaana chahiye tha... aakhir Preeti hamari employee bhi hai aur Naina ki dost bhi..." he tried to consol himself giving all best possible excuses to meet her...

"Vaise kya usey meri yaad aa rahi hogi... nahin... bhala voh kyun mujhe yaad karegi... maine kaun sa usey kabhi apne saath hone ki khushi di hai... kabhi usase pyaar se baat karna toh dur ek dafa nazar utha kar dekhta tak nahin theek se... haan chhup chhup kar dekhna alag baat hai... par hamesha meri wajah se uski aankhon mein aansun aaye hai... lekin aaj uski ek jhalak dekhne ke liye mein kitna tadap raha hun kaise bataau usey..."

He sits back on his bed missing her terribly... sleep was far away from his eyes getting worried about her, "agar aaj bhi raat ko bhukh lagi toh... pata nahin kuchh khaaya bhi hai ki nahin theek se... vahaan kaun hoga jo uska khyaal rakhega... Preeti toh khud itni disturb hogi... aur raat ko darr laga toh... nightmares aaye toh kaise sambhalegi khudko... galti kar di, mujhe usey rukne nahin dena chahiye tha, par rokta bhi kaise... aur kis haq se..."

He picked up his phone from side table to call her, "phone kar leta hun... par nahin, bolunga kya... saamne hoti hai toh har baat par usko daantata rehta hun, ab kis munh se usey vaapas aane ke liye bolun... usne bhi toh ek baar phone tak nahin kiya... kyaa ek baar bhi mera khayal nahin aaya hoga uske dil mein... kya hum itne paraye hai ek dusre se, jab dil ke har kone mein sirf voh hi hai..." he keeps the phone back, unable to get courage to call her...

It Hurts When You Have Someone In Your Heart,

But You Can't Have Them In Your Arms...

Even Naina was also tossing on her bed whole night in same condition, "yeh mujhe kya ho raha hai... hum ek ghar, ek kamre mein bhi do anjaano ki tarah rehte hai toh phir aaj yeh ek din ki duri se kyun itna farq pad raha hai... mera unke aas paas hona unhein achchha nahin lagta toh mein kyun itni bechain hun... vaise kaun sa hum ek dusre ke saath waqt bitate hai ya baatein karte hai... unhein toh meri yaad bhi nahin aa rahi hogi... sochenge achchha hai vaapas nahin aayi... aaj toh chen ki neend soyenge... koi raat mein disturb jo nahin karega unko khaane ke liye..."

She went near the window looking sky, "agar aaj ek din mein yeh haal hai toh jab unse hamesha ke liye dur jaaungi toh kaise jee paaungi... maana unki kadwi baatein hamesha dil mein teer ki tarah chubhati hai lekin mein iss baat se inkaar nahin kar sakti ki unhone har pal bina maange mera saath diya hai, vajah chaahe koi bhi ho.... bhale hi kuchh nahin kehte par unka har waqt mere aas paas rehna mujhe achchha lagane laga hai... ek alag sa ehsaas hai jo maine kabhi mehsoos nahin kiya... mujhe unki aadat ho rahi hai... par yeh galat hai... unki zindagi mein, unke dil mein mere liye koi jagah nahin... mujhe apni feelings ko rokna padega... yeh sirf aur sirf mujhe dard dengi aur kuchh nahin... mein kabhi chahkar bhi apne dil ka haal kisi ko nahin bata paaungi... inn sapno par mera koi haq nahin..."

I don't need someone to complete me... 

I need someone to make things a bit better every now and then...

She turned to see Preeti still sobbing in her sleep, "aaj Preeti ka dard mein samajh sakti hun kyunki mein bhi itni hi akeli hun... iss poori duniya mein mera bhi koi apna nahin jisase mein apne dil ka haal kah sakun... sorry Preeti, ek din tujhe bhi chhod kar jaana padega mujhe... par wada karti hun jab tak yahaan hun tera saath nahin chhodungi... tere aur Sameerji ke saath beete pal shayad mere aane wali akeli aur tanha zindagi mein sukoon de sake..." she laid down next to her caressing her head so that she can sleep peacefully... after an exhausted and emotionally stressed day she too slept getting tired...

Early morning, Pandit came to his seeing him all awake... he himself was also disturbed since last day seeing Preeti's condition but unable to figure out his own feelings for her... whenever he closes his eyes, Preeti's teary face came in front of him, making him more restless... he never felt like this in his entire life and was totally confused...

Pandit asked confusingly, "are we supposed to have any morning meeting... sorry I was not there yesterday... hope I am not late..." he was worried that he got late in coming...

Sameer shook his head, "no... don't worry... there's no meeting today... actually I was just thinking to visit Preeti before going to office... after all she is our staff... we should go and meet her... she is all alone now and it's difficult to handle..."

Pandit smiled with a teasing look, "are you sure... you want to meet Preeti or are you actually missing some one..."

Sameer glared him with his usual tone, "shut up... and by the way can I ask you, why you are so much worried about Preeti... you hardly know her but still so much disturbed since last day... what's going on bro?" his tone turned into teasing for him...

Pandit changed his expression sternly, "nothing like that... anyways after seeing you, I am sure I will not dare to get into any relation..." he laughed making fun of him but stops seeing his deathly stares... giving hard looks to each other soon they both burst into laughter...

Soon getting ready they were about to leave when Sameer asked him to wait outside...

Sameer rolled his wheelchair to their closet and opened to get some dress for her, "kal se gayi huyi hai without any planning... let me take some dress for her to change at least... so careless..." he frowned on her careless attitude...

He got surprised to see her dresses were still in a small bag lying at corner of the dressing area... he realized till now even after close to a month of their marriage she is keeping her dresses in bag... they are not even sharing same wardrobe...

He opened her bag and surprised to find only few dresses of hers... he quickly freed one shelf for her dresses and keep her bag in it... he realized that he had never bothered for her expenses and how she must be handling without money... and she refused to take any help from him now... she usually wears these few of her old dresses daily in office... she has no accessories or jewellery to worn either...

Taking a deep sigh, he decided to handle this matter soon... but at this moment, he was eager to meet her, to see her... he brings out one dress and keep it in a bag for her... soon they left for Preeti's house...

Naina woke up with a jerk hearing doorbell... seeing Preeti still sleeping, she covered her with duvet and went to open the door... she was clueless that who can be there at this early hour... thinking it must be milkman, she picked up the empty utensil from kitchen and opened the door with half sleepy eyes without checking... rubbing her eyes with her one hand, she extended her other hand giving the empty vessel to the person at gate...

Soon her eyes left open widely feeling someone's hard grip on her wrist.... a low scream came out from her mouth in shock, "aap... aap yahaan.. itni subah... kyun..." it's not less than a shock for her to see Sameer... in her wildest dream she was not expecting him to come here, that too so early in the morning...

Sameer frowned, "this is what you think about me... mein tumhein doodh wala lagta hun..."

She scared with a horrified look, "I am sorry... I didn't mean that... aap ... yahaan.. I was not expecting you... but please come in..." she gave him a side to come inside feeling embarrassed on her behavior... she hit slightly on her head to be so clumsy and put herself in awkward situation always...

Sameer came inside looking around... it was a small one-bedroom apartment with all basic facilities with an attached small kitchen and balcony in a nice and safe society, suitable for a girl to stay alone...

Naina helped him to push his wheelchair taking him inside... Pandit suppressing his laughter went back to park the car in a safer place... in rush to come upstairs, Sameer even didn't allow him to park his car properly...

There was an awkward silence in the room... Sameer staring her intensely whereas she was feeling ashamed to consider him as milkman and on her rude behavior, which was unintentional...

Her mind was confused on his arrival, but her heart gets delighted thinking, "saari raat inhein yaad kar rahi thi aur aankh khulte hi yeh aa gaye... kya inhein bhi meri yaad aa rahi thi raat bhar... lagta hai jaise ek pal bhi nahin soye ho... par kyun?" this mere thought sent a chill down her spine...

Seeing her looking down, lost in her thoughts, he asked in a cold tone, "how's Preeti now...?" coming out from her trance she replied slowly, "better... but it's difficult to accept this truth for her... being alone in whole world is not easy for anyone... it kills you sometimes... but she is strong... I am sure she will cope- up with it soon... anyways, life doesn't give us much of options either..." she said feeling bad for Preeti...

Sameer saw her gloomy face which turned slightly pale... her puffed eyes seemed like she cried and awaked whole night, "is she was missing me too... toh ek baar phone nahin kar sakti thi... aur ab kaise chup chap se khadi hai... kahin naraaz toh nahin mere aane se..." he thought...

Sameer moved his wheelchair going close to her when Naina suddenly take a step back asking hesitantly, "can I make coffee for you...?" before waiting for his answer even she quickly left to kitchen avoiding his intense gaze on her...

Naina keeping the pan on gas stove with her trembled hands tried to switch on the lighter to ignite... she was hell nervous seeing him sitting closely and staring her... she was unable to focus on anything... she was thinking about him whole night but seeing him in front of her suddenly makes her so nervous...

She was all lost in her thoughts when heard the sound of wheels coming closer to her... her body stiffened a little... her heart thumped wildly... her breathe gets uneven and there were beads of sweat on her forehead appeared... in her lost state of mind by mistake she kept her hand on hot pan...

Suddenly a hard pull took out her hand from Pan... she shivered seeing him holding her burnt hand... he pushed her towards sink and keep her hand in water to ease the burning sensation...

Sameer glared seeing her fingers turned red instantly and shout on her, "what's wrong with you... have you lost your mind..."

Naina's eyes brimmed with tears seeing someone cared for her and she answered in a trembling voice, "no... nothing... I mean... sorry... voh..."

It was apparent from her face that she did not feel well but still attempted to hide it... Sameer stared her unhappily while blowing air from his mouth to her wound... she tried to snatch her hand from his grip as his close proximity creating havoc inside her... she decided last night to stay away from him and not to let any feeling develop for him but the moment she opened her eyes in morning he was right there in front of her and caring her... messing with her thoughts...

Sameer's grip was more firmed on her wrist seeing her struggling to get out of it... Pandit entered seeing them in kitchen and turned to go out giving them privacy, when Sameer asked loudly, "get an ointment... fast..."

Pandit was not aware of what all happened there and rushed out to get the ointment when saw Preeti coming out from her room rubbing her eyes... she got shocked to see Sameer in kitchen holding Naina's hand and Pandit was standing there...

Before she asked Pandit rushed to her side asking for medicine... she went back in her room and get the ointment... coming back Preeti offered to prepare coffee for all with Pandit as feeling an awkward silence persisting there...

Naina came out from kitchen with him... Sameer take the medicine and gently applied on her burnt fingers softly... she winced in pain with his touch when he glared her, "dhyaan kahaan rehta hai tumhara... why are you always so careless about yourself...?" he scolds her as can't see her in pain for any reasons...

She bit her lower lip to reduce pain when he pulled her leaning towards him, "you better start taking care of yourself... get it..." though his tone was soft but covered with a threat... she realized his words earlier stating the reason for her wellbeing... he doesn't want her to put any blame or claim for any injuries to her...

She tried to snatch her hand saying, "don't worry... I will not put any blame on you for anything..." her voice chocked feeling hurt not physically but emotionally...

Suddenly, his hold on her wrist gets tightened, "Is this what you think only?"

She looked at him helplessly saying slowly, "it's paining..."

He loosened his grip softly as doesn't want to hurt her... they seated back in front of each other when Preeti came out getting coffee for all... she handed a cup to Sameer greeting him politely...

Sameer turned towards her, "Preeti... I felt sorry for your loss... but if you need any help or support, please call me anytime... I know no one can replace them in your life but we all will be with you... just consider us as your friend..." he said with a softer tone feeling her pain...

Naina shocked to hear him as she had not seen him using such gesture towards anyone till now... but feels good seeing his care and concern for Preeti... no doubts Maheshwari Industries took good care of their staff and consider them as their own family...

Soon he left with Pandit without giving any glance to Naina thinking why always their talks ended with an unpleasant turn... he came early morning as unable to resist his feelings to see her... he was missing her terrible and her face was also displaying the same emotions... then why always they left hurting each other...

Next update tomorrow... enjoy weekend 😊